Why have I been producing more nasal mucus lately?

Increased nasal crusting or “nose boogers” (medically termed nasal crusts or dried nasal secretions) can stem from several common, usually benign causes. The most frequent contributors include environmental dryness—especially during winter months or in air-conditioned or heated indoor spaces—which accelerates evaporation of the thin mucosal layer lining the nasal passages, leading to mucus dehydration and crust formation. Chronic rhinitis (allergic, non-allergic, or infectious), sinusitis, or postnasal drip can also increase mucus production; when this mucus stagnates or dries in the anterior nasal vestibule, it forms visible crusts. Other potential factors include habitual nose picking, which disrupts the nasal mucosa and promotes crusting; use of intranasal medications like corticosteroid sprays (particularly if overused or improperly directed); and systemic conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome, sarcoidosis, or vitamin A deficiency, though these are less common and typically accompanied by additional symptoms like dry eyes, fatigue, or skin changes. In rare cases, persistent unilateral crusting with bleeding or foul odor may signal localized pathology—such as nasal vestibulitis, septal deviation causing turbulent airflow, or even early squamous cell carcinoma—and warrants otolaryngologic evaluation. If nasal crusting is new, worsening, associated with epistaxis, pain, facial pressure, or anosmia, or fails to improve with humidification and saline irrigation, clinical assessment is recommended.